Penguins sign GM Jim Rutherford to 3-year contract

Jim Rutherford, left, takes questions as Penguins President David Morehouse listens after Rutherford was introduced as the new general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL hockey team at a news conference on Friday, June 6, 2014, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic/File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have rewarded the architect of their Stanley Cup winning roster with a new deal.

The team and general manager Jim Rutherford agreed to a new three-year contract Friday that will run through the 2018-19 season. The 67-year-old Rutherford came to Pittsburgh two years ago and totally revamped the roster around stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, leading to the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup this spring. He was voted General Manager of the Year at the NHL’s annual awards show last month.

Rutherford is the first general manager of the expansion era (post-1967) to lead multiple franchises to championships. He was in Carolina when the Hurricanes won their only Cup in 2006.

The Penguins also signed forward Tom Sestito and defenseman Steve Olesky and Stuart Percy to two-way contracts on Friday.